The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-06
FATAL CARELESSNESS.
HORRIBLE DEATHS OF JAMES STEW.
ART, JR., AND TILLMAN BUSH.
Gun, Playfully Pointed, Tears the
Formers Head OF, and a Twig Pulls
the Hammer Which Sends Load of
Shot Into the Heart of the Other.


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4 A fearful traeedy--a blood-curdling in
ci,lent scene appalling and shockingIy
Rad.-was the untincly and accidental
death OF young James Stewart, at Belle
view station, this county on Saturday
Lad, by his young friend and schoolmate,
John Rodgers Johnnie Rodgers is about
the same age fifteen years OF his de-
eeased friend, and lives in the city, with
his parents, on Madison street extended
inst beyond the Memphis & Charleston
rairoad bridge. lie and Stewart were
SCHOOL chums Stewart having boarded at
his home during the winter months TO at
tend school In the summer months
Rodgers spent most of his vacation with
Stewart. On Saturday morning he went
out to see Stewart, and they spent the
day in hunting; and, after day OF sport,
returned home at rightiall. About $50
O'Clock the boys went TO their room TO re.
tire, but not being ovcrwcaricd from the
days pleasure, they, boyish-like, engaged
in romp and playful scutlling match,
UuTlHR NllltIl lNh'b
gle-barreled breech-loading gun of Stewart
and, thoughtless of its being loaded,
snapped il full in his face. In
an instant there was loud re.
port, and the innocent lad fell
TO the floor. Blinded by the powdersmoke,
and realizing the deadly result OF his
playful rashness, Rodgers screamed at the
top of his voice. Capt Stewart rushed from
his room 60 the scene, and most horrible
and hcartrcndmg sight met his gaze.
There, on the floor, as the smoke and iume
vi the deadly explosion cleared away, he
behold his beloved child struggling and
writing in his own liic's blood, but
specchleS. The charge from the gun had
struck him squarely in the mouth, and
ranged obliqucly TO the left, and with
dreadful force tore away the whole OF the
left cheek bone and tissue, part of the
nose, fearlully frHctming and tearing the
lower jaw and riddling the tongue into
shrcds. A moro horrible and pitiablC
sight was never seen, hut life, which TO the
victim WIS Undesirable agony, remained
In spcechlcss torture, and bathed in his
warm, hot blood, which streamed iron
every wound the many small missiles o
death had pierced, hc writhed throughou
the night.
Ills doting parents, though wild Will
grief, had the presence OF mind 90 dispatcl
some one for physician. DIR. Bate, VIII
lives near 10y, responded at once, and die
all in his power TO alleviate the suffering
OF the unfortunate youth. lie took on
large pieces Of the fractured bones, and ID.
Using opiatcs hyporlermically PARTIAL.
eased the horrors Of the death the ill-iato,
boy was doomed 10 meet. The woun'
was necessarily fatal, and from the star
was completely beyond surgical relief, bu
strange 10 say, life in all It's unspcakabl
suffering hung tcnaciously on. Early sun
day morning DIR. w. H. Rogers was sen
for, and with DR. Bate did everythin
possible for the little suffer, but TO no avail
Death relieved him OF his existence q
1880 o'clockthat afternoon.
The parents Of the dead boy are incor
solablc over their dcplomble loss, an
1 young Rodgers has been almost franti
with grief. In fact, the thoughtlcss 10
of the moment il irrcconciahle, and bcl
10 be permitted TO Join his dead fellow
Capt. Stewart aud family have host I
friends, and II sympathy could heal the
sorrow their mourning would be turne
into gladncss. II IL an awful warning
every lad in the community. There II D
criminaliiy in the matter, so far as re
intent goes; but such frequent occurrence
and such dire consequences from carclcs
ness il criminal. This pointing Of fircarn
has no scmblance To playfulncss, and hoy
ever innoccnily done, the result IL Just /
serious, and the circumstances far saddle
than II done in anger. II would look III
iorturing the tortured for the law to aC
its punishment 10 the pcrpetraior OF SUI
calamity, but all such carccssness shou
be made a felony, rs prevention to
T. repetition.